Bowman launches ‘high tech’ end covers for hydraulic oil cooler range

17 June, 2015

UK heat exchanger manufacturer, E J Bowman, has introduced two new material specifications for the end covers on its hydraulic oil cooler range.

Composite end covers

Designed for applications where Bowman heat exchangers are used with highly aggressive cooling media such as sea water, Bowman’s new composite end covers are a direct replacement for traditional brass or gunmetal.

Developed as an advanced technology solution, the new Composite end covers are based around a precision engineered metallic inner core which is moulded inside a Glass Filled Nylon (GFN) end cover, a material composition which provides significant strength and rigidity throughout the structure of the component, combined with complete resistance to corrosion. Bespoke designed, threaded brass inserts are moulded into the end cover and their novel design ensures they cannot come loose under load or when applying fixings or pipework connections.

The move to a composite material also reduces weight significantly, which for certain applications will provide a useful additional benefit.

The new end covers are a further development of Bowman’s GFN technology, which has already been extensively proven in extreme conditions where sea water, aggressive chemicals or mineral rich fresh water is used within the heat exchanger. Critical dimensions remain unchanged and the BSP connections are exactly the same as the previous brass end covers. Working pressure is 16 bar on the tube side and working temperature is 110degC.

‘C’ Coat end covers

‘C’ Coat 300 is a highly durable surface coating, developed by Bowman in conjunction with one of the world leaders in surface coating technology and has been designed to protect components manufactured from cast iron from the corrosive attack of sea water, chemicals, or mineral rich fresh water. Developed primarily for use where sea water is used as the cooling medium, ‘C’ Coat 300 is a heavy fusion bonded, pinhole free epoxy coating that is impervious to mineral attack.

‘C’ Coat finished cast iron end covers not only provide a more cost effective alternative to traditional materials such as Naval Brass, but in addition help prevent the risk of galvanic reaction between dissimilar materials – a common cause of corrosion inside the heat exchanger – plus sea water erosion of the end cover internal surface.

Bowman heat exchangers fitted with ‘C’ Coat 300 end covers have the same operating pressure and temperatures as those fitted with traditional end covers. ‘C’ Coat 300 also offers very good chemical, corrosion and solvent resistance and the coating does not support combustion.

‘C’ Coat 300 end covers are available as an alternative to Naval Brass on Bowman’s GL, GK, JK and PK hydraulic oil cooler ranges.

Bowman manufacture one of the most comprehensive ranges of shell and tube heat exchangers available and their products are proven extensively in both land based and marine hydraulic system cooling installations throughout the world.

All hydraulic oil coolers are manufactured at the company’s UK production facility to ISO 9001-2008 quality standards and are fully supported with technical advice, a comprehensive replacement parts service and a network of accredited stockists worldwide.